STEVE Lloyd told his players to savour the feeling after they recorded a first league win of the campaign on Tuesday following 18 previous attempts.

They dominated West Didsbury & Chorlton from the outset.

“It’s been a long time coming!” said the Villagers’ boss.

“At times it’s been bordering on the ridiculous, and the reality is we ought to have taken more of the opportunities we’ve had from winning positions.

“It would have been easy for heads to go down, but the players’ spirit for every game has been there and they deserve their reward.”

The visitors were without captain and leading goal-scorer Chris Smith, who netted twice in a 5-3 defeat at Padiham last Saturday to increase his tally for the campaign to 20.

Ryan Malone opened the scoring, his delicate attempt clipping the bar on its way into the net.

The visitors doubled their lead shortly after the interval when George Mannion applied an emphatic finishing touch to a Malone free-kick.

However West replied, and Joe Shaw halved their arrears.

Bandell steered in a neat finish to restore Barnton’s two-goal lead before repeating the trick, this time with a header, to put his side out of reach.

The margin of victory might have been wider too after George Webster’s long-distance attempt struck the crossbar.

Lloyd added: “Offensively, we’ve clicked a while ago.

“I’ve since asked the lads to be more aggressive in defence, and it’s a nice feeling when both of those elements come off.”

Barnton turn their attention next to a meeting with second-bottom Burscough at Townfield Lane on Saturday, kick-off 3pm.

West | Betton (GK) (Whyment 65), Mason, Botchey (Weston 33), Tinker, Sergeant, Potts, Shaw (Poizer 66), Rydings, Bailey, Kay, Woods Subs not used none Goal Shaw 53

Barnton | Cooke (GK), Crofts, Mannion, Ford, James McShane, Moores (Houghton 66), Webster, Jason McShane, Malone (Hamid 86), Woolley (Bandell 66), Irlam Subs not used Smith, Kiernan (GK)

Attendance 94